JuJu Watkins injury: USC star speaks out for first time since ACL tear

JuJu Watkins has become one of the top players in women’s college basketball. 

The USC guard sustained a season-ending knee injury during a second-round game in the NCAA Tournament.

While USC got past Kansas State in the Sweet 16, the short-handed Trojans were eliminated from contention in the Elite Eight. The day after UConn’s 78-64 victory over USC, Watkins expressed gratitude for the support she’s received since tearing an ACL.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) during pregame warmups before a second-round NCAA Tournament game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Galen Center in Los Angeles March 24, 2025. (Robert Hanashiro/Imagn Images)

“Thank you all for the incredible love and support. Seeing all your messages and kind words has meant the world to me — y’all have given me so much hope,” Watkins wrote in a post to her Instagram story.

WNBA LEGEND REVEALS 1-WORD REACTION TO JUJU WATKINS’ DEVASTATING KNEE INJURY

“Right now, my heart is with my teammates – I wish I could have been out there battling, but I couldn’t be prouder of the fight we’ve fought together. Thank you all.”

USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins grabs her knee after falling to the floor during the first quarter of a second-round NCAA Tournament game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Galen Center in Los Angeles March 24, 2025. (Robert Hanashiro/Imagn Images)

UConn’s win over USC punched the Huskies’ ticket to the Final Four. UConn faces UCLA Friday.

USC entered this year’s tournament as a top seed. The Trojans also earned a No. 1 seed last year and advanced to the Elite Eight. UConn also eliminated USC in the Elite Eight in 2024.

Watkins was fouled as she drove to the basket on a fast break about five minutes into a March 24 game against Mississippi State. Her right knee appeared to buckle on the play, and she fell to the floor, where she remained for well over a minute in visible pain, grabbing her knee.

USC guard JuJu Watkins (12) against Mississippi State guard Jerkaila Jordan (2) during the first half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament March 24, 2025, in Los Angeles.  (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Watkins put together an outstanding freshman campaign during the 2023-24 season, and her impressive performance continued this year. The Los Angeles native averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 33 games this season.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said Watkins’ status for the 2025-26 season is unclear.

“We don’t know what JuJu will do. Will she take the whole year and redshirt? Will she try to come back at some point,” Gottlieb told ESPN Monday. “Those aren’t conversations for right now, but I do think we will dive into how do we stay an elite team regardless of those circumstances. We will have time to figure out how to be great, even if JuJu isn’t out there.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.